Kea Cyclades Page 2

Towns

Kea's main port Korissa

The harbor is a brisk
and busy port. The bay has a decent sandy beach. There are a few pretty neoclassical buildings and a lovely church. Along the waterfront you
can find boutiques, art galleries and tavernas.

Over the headland,
a path leads to the stone constructed estate of the Marouli Family and
further along to the sandy cove sheltering Gialiskari beach with
a taverna and pine stands. This locality has many holiday villas
for rich Athenians.

North of Korissa

To the north lies
Aghio
Nicolaou Bay and the village-resort of Vourkari by the Sea where many
yachts and pleasure boats loll in the waters. Voukari has several nice
hotels, some with balconies opening on to the sea.

There are also efficiency
apartments for let. Try just about any restaurant for fresh seafood! You'll
see the yachties eating near their moorings.

The Church
of Aghia Irini stands on the promitory and nearby, the excavations
of the Minoan-Mycenaean settlement. Its discoveries are on display
in the Archeological Museum of Ioulis (Tues-Sun, 8:30-3, Tel: 22079) along
with other finds from around the island. (The original Kouros of Kea is in the National Archeology Museum in Athens with a copy on display
locally.)

At the
northern most tip of the island is the very popular beach resort of Otzias. The bay around Otzias is ringed with blooming
almond trees, which are beautiful in sping. You can walk up to the Monastery of Panagia Kastriani about
a kilometer to the east. There's a great panoramic view from the monastery. The monastery has a miraculous Icon of the
Virgin Mary whose properties were discovered in 1708 by two goatherds
who were attracted to a mysterious glowing on the mountain side
that led them to the icon.